Country Stars, CMT Unite for Music Builds Fundraiser

Country stars and many other celebrities joined with CMT on Thursday night (May 12) to seek help for thousands of people trying to rebuild their lives after devastating floods and tornadoes across the South. Donations from the event will support the efforts of the American Red Cross.

Along the way, a plea for support came from President Obama, while video messages were shared by Taylor Swift, Shania Twain and Carrie Underwood, as well as actresses Nicole Kidman and Courteney Cox, talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson and American Idol personalities Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Ryan Seacrest and Steven Tyler.

“When I signed up to be a celebrity spokesperson for the Red Cross, I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I’d be standing here today in my home state of Alabama, talking about people that we know and our neighbors,” Evans said in a video segment as she walked through the aftermath. “I just can’t even imagine it. Every single thing you own, just gone. Destroyed.”

Tim McGraw sang “My Old Friend” and also strongly encouraged viewers — especially those in his home state of Louisiana — to take evacuation requests seriously.

“I understand the desire to try to ride things out,” he said. “Folks in Louisiana are pretty tough. Please, if you’re in the path of the current flooding and someone tells you to evacuate, do it. Don’t risk your own life and the life of your family to stand your ground. It’s hard to say this, but your home can be replaced. You can’t.”

“We’re here tonight because we’re going to ask for your help,” he said prior to a performance of “My Home’s in Alabama”
with bandmates Jeff Cook and Teddy Gentry.

“In the county that we’re from, where we live in DeKalb County, we lost 34 of our citizens,” Owen explained. “In our home state of Alabama, we’ve lost — so far — 238. These are people that we knew and friends of ours. We need your help. We sing this song for our friends back in Alabama and the surrounding area. We love y’all. We’re praying for you. And everybody around the world that’s listening and watching, help us out if you can.”

In pre-taped segments, Ronnie Dunn recounted a story of a daughter who survived the storm with her elderly mother. In addition, Keith Urban shared an account of an 11-year-old who rescued a 67-year-old woman trapped in the rubble of her apartment building. Meanwhile, Lady Antebellum shared a tale about a family’s lost dog brought home through social media outreach.

During his video message, President Obama said, “When tragedy like this strikes our American family, we help one another. We support one another as one country and one people. And that’s what we’ve seen over the past two weeks in the volunteers who have given their time and effort to help shelter and support those who have lost everything. In the first responders and local, state and federal officials who worked side by side in search-and-rescue and recovery efforts. And in every citizen who stepped up to be a good neighbor and a hero to their fellow Americans. That’s what inspired tonight’s relief concert. We stand with those affected by this disaster — tonight and for as long as it takes.”

Near the end of the telethon, Trace Adkins rendered a soulful version of “Rainy Night in Georgia,”
the pop classic written by Tony Joe White. Although he didn’t speak in the moments prior to his song, Adkins’ rich baritone could be heard throughout the broadcast in voiceovers that detailed the damage in communities across the South.

In addition, White pointed out the charitable efforts of country artists who were unable to participate in the telethon. For example, Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton have scheduled two fundraising concerts in their native Oklahoma for disaster relief, while Brad Paisley is donating the digital royalties from his latest single, “Old Alabama.” Just prior to the broadcast, Kenny Chesney announced he is donating his revenue from his May 25 concert in Tuscaloosa, Ala., for disaster relief efforts in the city that suffered dozens of casualties, with many more residents missing.